Sunday, November 5, 2017

NYC is Giving Away $50K for Business Ideas That Cut Food Waste

Non-profit Foundation for New York’s Strongest just announced a microgrant program to fund $50K to local businesses who create initiatives that will reduce food waste. Applicants can be individual New York small businesses, or groups of businesses in a neighborhood working together on a proposal. Applications are due on January 8, 2018.New grant program for New York small businesses

New York's Sanitation Department has a successful curbside organics collection program in the city. The program has been able to keep 30 tons of food waste out of landfills each day. By taking this program one step further with a microgrant program, both the city and NYC small businesses will benefit.

New York residents, institutions, and businesses produce around 24,000 tons of solid waste every day, and about 20 percent of it is from food. The Foundation for New York’s Strongest will award grants up to $2,000 for individual small business applicants, and $5,000 for a group of businesses, plus technical advisory and other goods and services. Eligible businesses must be able to demonstrate a need for support and have a viable implementation plan.

Program examples

Some of the examples given as viable plans include apps or technologies for tracking waste, tracking food waste prevention in buffet areas, developing compost or food donation programs through partnerships with community gardens or other businesses.